THE VOICE CONNECTION
SOUND OFF

Welcome to The Voice Connection Sound Off; a forum for users of books like Raise Your Voice, Melody to Madness, The Ultimate Breathing Workout, and Unleash Your Creative Mindset, as well as a place for Vendera Vocal Academy members to interact.

This message board was created so that singers could come together and "sound off" to help support each other during vocal development and the creative process of unleashing the creative spark that occurs when writing and producing music. Currently, myself and vocal coaches Ben Valen, Ray West, and Ryan Wall are here to respond periodicially to your questions, with new vocal coaches coming soon. But, feel free to help each other too:)

This board is here for you to ask questions about my and my fellow coach's books, videos, and MP3 programs, as well as offer others help with our vocal techniques. You may also post videos of yourself and your band to share your music and ask for critiques.

Please refrain from negative comments, profanities, spamming, and inappropriate criticisms of vocal methodologies, vocal coaches, and singers. All negative posts will be deleted and subject to banning without question. I will not respond to negative posts, because, as Mark Twain once said, “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” With that said, positive criticism is welcome because that is how you'll grow as a singer during the training process.


The Voice Connection - Sound Off
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Download my demo [For FREE].

Feel free to do so here:

http://www.megaupload.com/se/?d=FCZODM2R

And please let me know what you think
I'll write some info about it when I come back!
This offer is for people on this board only, others have to purchase it

Re: Download my demo [For FREE].

I'm a better musician then I am a singer, so I'm just gonna comment on everything. I don't mean to be an *******, but your worst critics are your best teachers or however that saying goes. It's what I would want in your position, and I may need you to repay it one day, so remember it.

Oh, and remember, everything is subjective. If I say I like or dislike something, well it's just what I would've done or liked to hear. I listened to the songs at least three times each.

01 - Painted Black
The timing of this song seems a little...off. 7/4 is a difficult timing, and I definitely like the song, but I would re-record the main piano progression. Practice until you can do it perfect. Other then that, cool song. Sounds like Nightwish meets Tiamat.

02 - The Voice Inside
I really like this! I think it needs more intense drumming though. The first background vocals that come in just dont fit the sound of the song well. I would layer them a couple times (play around with the amount of layering). Also, use an equalizer on them, try adding 2-3 dB at 150hz to add some fullness, and 1-2 dB at 5khz to add some presence. The echo effect at 1:48 is cheesy, play around with it or ditch it. Good singing.

03 - Dreamer
That's a cool progression. Take 3 dB off the 80 hz range of the guitar (reduced muddiness), and add 2-3 dB to the 150-250 Hz range (adds some warmth). This song has potential, and definitely needs some drums. I'd have the drums kick in at around 1:17 when you start singing. Your higher notes are a bit too tight for my liking. Practice practice practice.

04 - Depression
I was more bored then I was depressed. This song is unoriginal, and not very interesting. This is filler, I'd drop it. Hold onto the lyrics, though.

Please, take your time when you make a song, you're more talented then this.

05 - Whispers
Good song, sounds very unprofessional. I'd play around with volume levels. I have a lot of equalizer suggestions.
Vocals:
Same suggestions as I had with the background vocals in The Voice Inside, but also take off 2-3 dB at the 200-250 Hz range.

Electric guitar:
Take off 2-3 dB at the 100 Hz range to reduce muddiness. Add 2-3 dB in the 5khz range for bite and 2-3 dB to 2.5-4kHz for some attack (these last two Id strongly suggest for the high guitar at the end.) Try adding 2 dB to the 150-250 Hz range for some warmth.

Bass Guitar:
This instrument gets muddy quick. Honestly, this song is so muddy I cant even tell if there IS a bass guitar, but I'm pretty sure I can hear it. Take 3-4 dB off the 200-300 Hz range. Adding 1-2 dB to the 100 to 200 Hz range will make it sound fuller.

Drums:
I'm just gonna list the type of drum, how much you're gonna have to take off,and the frequency range. This is to reduce boxiness and trashiness(for cymbals)

Kick: 3-4 dB off 400-600Hz
Snare: 2-3 dB off 800-1000Hz
Tom-toms: 2-3 dB off 600-100-Hz
Big ("floor") toms: 2-3 dB off 400-800 Hz
Cymbals: 3 to 4 dB off 1-2 khz
Also, try 1-2 dB off 150-200 Hz to reduce rumbling.

Piano: add 2-3 dB to 80-150 Hz for warmth. Take 2-3 dB off 200-400 Hz to reduce muddiness. If you want some punch/attack add 2-3 dB to 2.5-5kHz

Most of these suggestions were to reduce muddiness...if you find the song starts to lack soul or presence after, add a little more, or slightly boost bass frequencies on the main equalizer. Also, you can use a multi-band compressor to boost the bass freq's a wee bit.

Overall: I liked it! I enjoy this style of music in general so you're lucky. In the future I'd like to see more originality, because you have a similar sound to a lot of other musicians. Your high notes tend to be a bit tight, so keep practicing.

Re: Download my demo [For FREE].

**** that was an intensive review haha.
You really know your stuff.

Re: Download my demo [For FREE].

Haha apparently I don't. that first song is 4/4, it's just a little complicated rythmically (not in a bad way, just enough for me to mistakes it at 4 AM) My bad